York V Northampton at Bootham Crescent : Match Preview

05 November 2012 06:31

York manager Gary Mills is not expected to make any changes to his starting line-up for the second successive match in the home game with Northampton.

Mills has no new injury or suspension problems and is likely to keep Matty Blair up front alongside Jason Walker and Ashley Chambers following the recent season-ending injury to Michael Coulson (anterior cruciate ligament).

Striker Jamie Reed is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up after scoring in the FA Cup draw with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, while Lanre Oyebanjo is another player keen to win back his place in the side at right-back in place of Danny Parslow.

The Minstermen, two points off a play-off place, are unbeaten in their last five league matches.

Northampton have an unchanged squad.

Midfielder Chris Hackett and full-back John Johnson both returned to the starting line up against Bradford on Saturday following injury lay-offs and the Cobblers managed to get through the FA Cup first-round tie without suffering any new problems.

Boss Aidy Boothroyd, who is looking to make loan signings, has the likes of Ishmel Demontagnac, Clive Platt, Henoc Mukendi and Lewis Wilson available should he wish to freshen up his team.

"We are looking at loans and we've got a few irons in fires," said Boothroyd at his pre-match press conference. "But first and foremost we've got to look at the players we've already got and Ben Harding (ankle) should be back in a couple of weeks, which will be a big plus for us.

"You can have as many loan players as you like but you can only have five in your matchday 18 so we can mix and match where we need to. We are getting out to lots of games to look at possible recruits, not just for now but with January very much in mind as well.

"Whenever you set out on a campaign you have a plan but then when you get a few injuries you have to adapt. To lose your best player to a broken leg is really unfortunate - especially for Alex Nicholls - and it throws up all kinds of questions to me about where we go now as a team in terms of what we do, how we play and the personnel within that system."